Sanchez, Munaretto to go for gold in men’s freestyle, Raney in bronze medal match at U17 World Championships

AMMAN, Jordan – Two men’s freestyle athletes will wrestle for gold on Sunday at the 2024 U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan. One secured a spot in the bronze medal match, while two were pulled into repechage as Team USA went 12-3 on the second day of men’s freestyle.

In the 46 kg semifinals, Samuel Sanchez faced Individual Neutral Athlete Dzhamal Bakaev. The match began with Sanchez earning a point after Bakaev was put on the clock for passivity. Bakaev responded with a takedown, gaining a 2-1 lead. Sanchez then earned a takedown of his own and turned Bakaev for two more points, taking a 5-2 lead into the break. In the second period, Bakaev narrowed the gap to 5-4 with another takedown, but Sanchez turned the tide with just 37 seconds remaining, pinning Bakaev to advance to the finals.

At 51 kg, 2022 U17 World Champion Domenic Munaretto took on Marlen Abdraimov of Kyrgyzstan in his semifinal match. Munaretto controlled the match from the start, scoring two points with a takedown and adding another point after Abdraimov was placed on the activity clock, leading 3-0. Munaretto continued to control the momentum, adding another takedown while Abdraimov only managed to score one on a reversal. Munaretto's 5-1 victory secured his place in the finals.

Jordyn Raney competed against Omurbek Asan Uulu of Kyrgyzstan in the semifinals at 60 kg. Asan Uulu took an early lead with a takedown on the edge, followed by another point with a step out, making it 3-0. Raney responded with a takedown to bring the score to 3-2. However, Asan Uulu continued to gain momentum, securing successive takedowns, increasing the lead to 7-2 and eventually to 9-2 after a failed challenge from the U.S. corner. Despite a late surge by Raney, who managed to score four points by putting Asan Uulu on his back, Asan Uulu countered the move and pinned Raney at 3:58.

Both Melvin Miller (71 kg) and Elijah Diakomihalis (92 kg) were pulled into repechage. Miller fell to Manuel Wagin of Germany, 7-1, in the quarterfinals, but Wagin won his semifinal match, allowing Miller to continue his quest for a World medal. Diakomihalis dropped a narrow bout to Konstantine Petriashvili of Georgia in the late half of the second, but Petriashvili earned a technical fall win in the semifinals, pulling Diakomihalis back into the tournament.

The action continues in Amman, Jordan, with the repechage for this final group of athletes. The day is slated to begin at 10 a.m. ET, and the medal matches will following the repechage round. All of the action can be broadcast live on FloWrestling.

At Amman, Jordan, August 24

45 kg

Amirabbas Ramezanibazarmahalleh (Iran) vs. Samuel Sanchez (United States)

51 kg

Domenic Munaretto (United States) vs. Frederick Bachmann Jr. (Puerto Rico)

60 kg

Omurbek Asan Uulu (Kyrgyzstan) vs. Huseyn Ismayilov (Azerbaijan)

71 kg

Manuel Wagin (Germany) vs. Abolfazl Shamsipour Hajivand (Iran)

92 kg

Rodion Sanakoev (AIN) vs. Konstantine Petriashvili (Georgia)

45 kg

Amirabbas Ramezanibazarmahalleh (Iran) dec. Ravan Hasanzade (Azerbaijan), 4-2

Samuel Sanchez (United States) pin Dzhamal Bakaev (AIN), 3:22

51 kg

Domenic Munaretto (United States) dec. Marlen Abdraimov (Kyrgyzstan), 5-1

Frederick Bachmann Jr. (Puerto Rico) dec. Akhmed Atangeriev (AIN), 4-1

60 kg

Omurbek Asan Uulu (Kyrgyzstan) pin Jordyn Raney (United States), 3:57

Huseyn Ismayilov (Azerbaijan) dec. Hayk Avanesyan (Armenia), 4-2

71 kg

Manuel Wagin (Germany) tech. fall Kairi Ito (Japan), 10-0

Abolfazl Shamsipour Hajivand (Iran) dec. Mark Laposa (Hungary), 5-1

92 kg

Rodion Sanakoev (AIN) dec. Amir Ali Pour (Iran), 5-4

Konstantine Petriashvili (Georgia) tech. fall Aliaksei Khadunou (AIN), 14-4

45 kg: Samuel Sanchez (Whittier, Calif./Rough House Wrestling/TMWC), in gold medal match

WIN Taku Shiba (Japan), 10-0 tech. fall

WIN Mher Hakobyan (Armenia), 11-0

WIN Dzhamal Bakaev (AIN), pin 3:23

51 kg: Domenic Munaretto (St. Charles, Ill.), in gold medal match

WIN Ozodbek Alijonov (Uzbekistan), 10-0

WIN Ashot Gyulnazaryan (Armenia), 11-1

WIN Marlen Abdraimov (Kyrgyzstan), 5-1

60 kg: Jordyn Raney (Sturgis, Ky./Union County HS Wrestling), in bronze medal match

WIN Adlan Saitiev (AIN), 10-4

WIN Stefan Gouws (South Africa), pin 0:54

WIN Bekassyl Assambek (Kazakhstan), 11-6

LOSS Omurbek Asan Uulu (Kyrgyzstan), pin 3:58

71 kg: Melvin Miller (Windber, Pa./Bishop McCort HS), in repechage

WIN Arsiom Bolsun (AIN), 6-2

WIN Nihad Abasov (Azerbaijan), 11-0

LOSS Manuel Wagin (Germany), 7-1

92 kg: Elijah Diakomihalis (Rochester, N.Y.), in repechage

WIN Farhad Suleymanli (Azerbaijan), 7-3

LOSS Konstantine Petriashvili (Georgia), 7-5

Sunday, August 25

4:30 p.m. - Men’s freestyle Repechage: 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg, 92 kg6:00 p.m. - Men’s freestyle Finals and Awards: 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg, 92 kg